Information theory is a mathematical framework for quantifying, storing, and communicating information, established by Claude Shannon in the 1940s. It involves concepts such as entropy, mutual information, and channel capacity, with applications ranging from data compression to cryptography and artificial intelligence. The field combines insights from various disciplines including mathematics, engineering, and computer science.

Karpathy's observation on human cognitive decline highlights the need for exposure to new and diverse experiences to prevent stagnation in thought and creativity. The author shares personal strategies to maintain mental freshness, such as reading widely and using AI to enhance language and content novelty. Emphasizing the importance of entropy in life, the article advocates for constant novelty to combat predictability and intellectual collapse.